In animal study, it has been reported that vinegar reduces serum cholesterol and that the effective ingredient is acetic acid, a main component of vinegar. We have recently shown that the intake of a bottle of a drink (100 ml per bottle) containing 15ml of vinegar is beneficial in reducing serum total cholesterol in subjects with serum total cholesterol levels of between 180 and 260 mg/dl. The test drink containing vinegar used in the relevant clinical study contained 750 mg of acetic acid per bottle.
In the present study, to investigate the safety of drinks containing vinegar, we conducted three clinical trials in which we used the same test drink as the one described above. In trial 1, subjects with serum total cholesterol levels of between 180 and 260 mg/dl were given three bottles of the test drink per day for 4 weeks. In trial 2, healthy subjects were given one bottle of the test drink per day for 14 weeks. In trial 3, healthy subjects were given three bottles of the test drink per day for 4 weeks.
In the three trials, no clinical problems were revealed by blood studies, urinalysis and blood pressure measurements. Neither did any subject in any test experience harmful side effects, such as digestive tract symptoms, skin diseases, or allergic phenomena.
In summary, the results indicate that drinks containing vinegar are safe both in healthy subjects and in subjects with serum total cholesterol levels of between 180 and 260 mg/dl.

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During four seasons (2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2003/04), a total of 157 samples of commercial raw oyster were examined for Norovirus (NV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. Twenty-five samples (15.9%) were NV-positive. NVs were most frequently detected in oysters in January, with none detected in October and November. The highest incidence of NV-positive oysters and outbreaks of illness associated with ingestion of raw oysters was observed in the 2002/03 season. NVs detected in oysters were classified into four probe types (P1-A, P2-A, P2-B and 96065) and seven genotypes (one in genogroup I and six in genogroup II). HAVs, on the other hand, were detected in only two samples (1.3%) and the amount of HAV in the oyster was very low. The findings of the study suggested that commercial raw oysters contaminated with NVs were closely related with the occurrence of NV-outbreaks associated with the ingestion of oysters.

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In measuring lead isotope ratios by ICP-MS, measurement values will differ from true values due to mass distinction effect. In this study, methods of correcting measurement values obtained by ICP-MS were examined. In the case of measurement values corrected using a correction coefficient, the proportion of the measurement value of a standard solution to a reference value, the correction value was occasionally different from the true value due to random change of sensitivity. When the correction coefficient was calibrated with a standard solution at regular intervals, correction values were obtained at high levels of accuracy, but tended to show gradual separation from true values. On the other hand, calibration by linearization of temporal fluctuation of the correction coefficient resulted in correction values very close to true values, albeit with some variation.

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In this study, optimal conditions to analyze lead isotope ratios in soil using ICP-MS were examined. For the extraction of lead from soil, a microwave digestion system without other operations was the most useful to prevent contamination and error, because sufficient extraction was performed and measured values had a high degree of accuracy. In ICP-MS measurement, optimal conditions were achieved with a method in which lead concentration was diluted to about 0.10 mg/L and seven repetition measurements were performed with a dwell time of 0.5 seconds. However, it would be necessary to introduce equal amount of lead to the ion source by making sample concentrations equal and to correct measurement values with a standard value.

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It has been reported that soybean foods are effective in reducing cholesterol during climacterium. We divided students into three diet groups (soybean, yam and unrestricted) and investigated for correlations between changes in cholesterol counts and diet for a period of 82 days. The amount of isoflavone intake from soybeans and soybean-processed foods was calculated for each group. In the soybean group, intake of isoflavones increased to 85 mg compared with the baseline amount of 39 mg. The actual intake of isoflavones in soybean foods or the isoflavone-like substances in domestic yams, conjectured values suggest a higher intake of isoflavones in the yam group than the others, and it is surmised that isoflavone intake is also effective in the young generation.

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